• Giving Thought 
by Allison Alexander
Our bi-weekly column in the Aspen Times about issues impacting the youth, families and nonprofit organizations in the Aspen to Parachute area.
2023 Columns
Giving Thought: New leadership values for a new era
Published: September 20, 2023

Giving Thought: Community support is critical for first-gen college students
Published: September 6, 2023 

Giving Thought: Meeting the increased demand for food access through innovation
Published: August 23, 2023 

Giving Thought: Moving Beyond Individualism to Interconnected Understanding
Published: August 10, 2023  

Giving Thought: Connecting community to creativity in the midvalley
Published: July 27, 2023

Giving Thought: Ending stigma, housing survivors, strengthening community

Published: July 13, 2023 

Giving Thought: Leveraging tourism for community good

Published: June 28, 2023

Giving Thought: Community Pride comes to Aspen
Published: June 14, 2023

Giving Thought: Healing in community

Published: May 31, 2023

Giving Thought: Moving beyond inclusion toward belonging

Published: May 18, 2023

Giving Thought: Arts vital for a thriving community
Published: May 4, 2023

Giving Thought: Giving Thought: Skiing for a sustainable region
Published: April 20, 2023

Giving Thought: Creative funding solutions needed to support our workforce

Published: April 6, 2023

Giving Thought: Collaboration key for our community

Published: March 22, 2023

Giving Thought: Housing underpins every aspect of our economy
Published: March 8, 2023

Giving Thought: Youth as the future for our community

Published: February 22, 2023

Giving Thought: Slow and steady expansion for Buddy Program

Published: February 8, 2023

Giving Thought: Collaboration at the heart of addressing the climate crisis

Published: January 25, 2023

Giving Thought: Older adults are part of the housing conversation
Published: January 12, 2023
2022 Columns
Giving Thought: Mental fitness for the new year
Published: December 28, 2022

Giving Thought: Roaring Fork Valley media collaborate to advance language equity

Published: December 15, 2022

Giving Thought: Child tax credit a gift that keeps on giving

Published: November 30, 2022

Giving Thought: Two-generation approach builds stronger community outcomes
Published: November 16, 2022

Giving Thought: Bringing awareness to break the silence
Published: November 2, 2022

Giving Thought: Stories connect hearts and minds across communities
Published: October 19, 2022

Giving Thought: Nonprofit workers are a nonrenewable resource
Published: October 5, 2022

Giving Thought: Building brain awareness to support belonging
Published: September 21, 2022

Giving Thought: Housing crisis impacts in real time
Published: September 7, 2022

Giving Thought: Shifting habits to create generational wealth
Published: August 25, 2022

Giving Thought: Nature as an antidote
Published: August 11, 2022

Giving Thought: Engaged philanthropy leads to increased support for youth
Published: July 27, 2022

Giving Thought: Horses as partners for wellbeing
Published: July 13, 2022

Giving Thought: School’s out for the summer
Published: June 30, 2022

Giving Thought: Healing substance abuse in community
Published: June 1, 2022

Giving Thought: Grief can build community
Published: May 18, 2022

Giving Thought: ‘Art Saves Lives’ is saying that rings true in our area
Published: May 5, 2022

Giving Thought: Planning for disaster key is dealing with recovery

Published: April 21, 2022

Giving Thought: How to support in times of crisis

Published: April 6, 2022

Giving Thought: School-based health centers remove barriers to care
Published: March 16, 2022

Giving Thought: Upcoming GlenX expo event plants post-secondary seeds
Published: March 3, 2022

Giving Thought: Good news for local families with young children

Published: February 16, 2022

Giving Thought: It’s scholarship season!
Published: February 3, 2022

Giving Thought: ‘One block in the quilt’ to protect local teens
Published: January 5, 2022
2021 Columns
Giving Thought: How to pay your taxes and support early childhood education
Published: December 16, 2021

Guest Column: Start with the why to determine what causes to support

Published: December 1, 2021

Guest Column: Help on way for struggling students from New Castle to Rifle
Published: November 18, 2021

Giving Thought: Early childhood education gets some of the attention it deserves

Published: November 3, 2021

Giving Thought: Philanthropists drive effort for better health care at lower cost

Published: October 27, 2021

Giving Thought: Upstart Highwater Farm quickly making big strides feeding community

Published: October 7, 2021

Giving Thought: Seeking tolerance, understanding and well-being for LGBTQ people
Published: September 15, 2021

Giving Thought: Feeding locals with would-be waste from stores and restaurants
Published: September 1, 2021

Giving Thought: A helping hand for new parents from Aspen to Parachute
Published: August 4, 2021

Giving Thought: ‘Deep listening’ comes before solutions at Valley Settlement
Published: July 14, 2021

Giving Thought: Preventing wildfire and preparing for it, too
Published: June 30, 2021

Giving Thought: A proven antidote for the ‘summer slide’
Published: June 16, 2021

Giving Thought: FocusedKids helps children learn to self-regulate
Published: June 2, 2021

Giving Thought: Voces Unidas de las Montañas reflects on a successful first year of service
Published: May 19, 2021

Giving Thought: New group takes innovative approach to managing summer camp stress

Published: April 14, 2021

Giving Thought: Preventing child abuse through collaboration and education
Published: April 1, 2021

Giving Thought: Providing COVID relief outside the organizational box

Published: March 25, 2021

Giving Thought: Coping with the social isolation of COVID-19
Published: March 11, 2021

Giving Thought: There is some light at the end of the tunnel

Published: March 3, 2021

Giving Thought: A rapid-response team to fight social injustice
Published: February 17, 2021

Giving Thought: Fostering early literacy in a changing environment
Published: February 10, 2021

Giving Thought: A glimpse of pandemic life in an assisted living complex
Published: February 3, 2021

Giving Thought: The front line in the battle to give economic aid
Published: January 27, 2021

Giving Thought: Competition comes to the region’s health-insurance market

Published: January 20, 2021

Giving Thought: Need health insurance? Mountain Family can help
Published: January 6, 2021
2020 Columns
Giving Thought: It’s not too late to support your favorite causes
Published: December 31, 2020

Giving Thought: Gratitude for the generosity during this challenging year
Published: December 23, 2020

Giving Thought: Nonprofits adapt to demands of the pandemic

Published: December 16, 2020

Giving Thought: A shout-out to those who feed the hungry
Published: December 9, 2020

Giving Thought: Pandemic presents obstacles, opportunities for area’s homeless

Published: December 2, 2020

Giving Thought: Donating holiday meals for as many as possible

Published: November 18, 2020

Giving Thought: As winter approaches, mind your mental health

Published: November 11, 2020

Giving Thought: The rigors of preschool and childcare in a pandemic
Published: November 4, 2020

Giving Thought: Abusive situations are when sheltering in place can be dangerous
Published: October 28, 2020

Giving Thought: Pandemic advice to live by as winter approaches
Published: October 21, 2020

Giving Thought: Whatever your opinions and politics, make sure to vote
Published: October 14, 2020

Giving Thought: Gallagher Amendment issue could modernize Colorado’s tax code
Published: October 7, 2020

Giving Thought: Prop EE offers health and education benefits
Published: September 30, 2020

Giving Thought: Virus places Aspen, Roaring Fork educators in the hot seat
Published: September 16, 2020

Giving Thought: Paid Medical and Family Leave will support Colorado families
Published: September 10, 2020

Giving Thought: Are we headed for a tidal wave of evictions?
Published: August 26, 2020

Giving Thought: 2020 wildfire season is upon us and we're ready
Published: August 20, 2020

Giving Thought: Don't forget to participate in the 2020 Census

Published: August 12, 2020

Giving Thought: Is child abuse down or do the numbers tell the whole story?
Published: August 5, 2020

Giving Thought: Family Resource Center keeps families stable and functioning during pandemic
Published: July 29, 2020

Giving Thought: Aspen Family Connections works to collaborate, learn new skills during pandemic
Published: July 22, 2020

Giving Thought: Childcare providers reopen in an unpredictably environment
Published: July 15, 2020

Giving Thought: There is a middle road to follow during the pandemic
Published: July 8, 2020

Giving Thought: Sowing the seeds of a thriving local food movement
Published: July 2, 2020

Giving Thought: Bringing Latino voices into the local conversation
Published: June 24, 2020

Giving Thought: How are those who are elderly navigating the pandemic?
Published: June 18, 2020

Giving Thought: COVID-19 triggers a creative solution for the homeless
Published: June 10, 2020

Giving Thought: Summer youth programs ask, 'Can we open and if so, how?
Published: June 2, 2020

Giving Thought: Building community is key in times of crisis
Published:  May 18, 2020

Giving Thought: Public-private partnerships strengthen pandemic response
Published: May 12, 2020

Giving Thought: Local philanthropists step up with Rescue Fund
Published: April 21, 2020

Giving Thought: COVID-19 pandemic endangers more than just our health
Published: April 6 , 2020

Giving Thought: Supporting the community during a pandemic
Published: March 23, 2020

Giving Thought: Training teens for the transition to adulthood is empowering
Published: March 10, 2020

Giving Thought: Exercise your right and vote on March 3
Published: February 24, 2020

Giving Thought: Opening doors to college and career with scholarships
Published: February 11, 2020

Giving Thought: Educational travel expands students' world view
Published: January 28, 2020

Giving Thought: Local 2020 Census efforts underway for a complete count

Published: January 14, 2020 


2019 Columns
Giving Thought: It's not too late to support your favorite causes
Published: December 31, 2019

Giving Thought: Start with the 'why' to determine what causes to support

Published: December 17, 2019

Giving Thought: Pay your state taxes and support young children

Published: December 3, 2019

Giving Thought: Emergency assistance lends a hand when it's most needed

Published: November 19, 2019

Giving Thought: Building a resilient community through philanthropy

Published: November 5, 2019

Giving Thought: There are many faces of homelessness in the Roaring Fork Valley

Published: October 22, 2019

Giving Thought: The 2020 Census is coming but will it be complete?

Published: October 8, 2019

Giving Thought: Healthy Kids survey provides window into teens' minds
Published: September 24, 2019

Giving Thought: Foundations play a key role in disaster response

Published: September 10, 2019

Giving Thought: School resource centers help keep region's families afloat
Published: August 27, 2019

Giving Thought: Nonprofit and business partnerships benefit local youth

Published: August 13, 2019

Giving Thought: Digging for insights using data

Published: July 30, 2019

Giving Thought: Putting people first in solving problems

Published: July 15, 2019

Giving Thought: Lake Christine Fire contributions helping to create wildfire adapted communities

Published: July 2, 2019

Giving Thought: A financial and emotional boost for high school graduates
Published:  June 18, 2019

Giving Thought: Teen vaping a concern for Aspen, entire state
Published:  June 4, 2019

Giving Thought:  Coalition addresses 'unintended consequences' in Colorado constitution
Published:  May 21, 2019

Giving Thought: Glenwood Springs invests in its teenagers using pot tax money

Published: May 7, 2019

Giving Thought: A big potential victory for Colorado kids with full-day kindergarten funding

Published: April 23, 2019

Giving Thought: Smoothing the transition from school to 'real world'

Published: April 9, 2019

Giving Thought: House bill first step toward a true early childhood system

Published: March 26, 2019

Giving Thought: Nonprofits are an economic dynamo

Published: March 12, 2019

Giving Thought: Supporting families' child care choices
Published: February 26, 2019

Giving Thought: Quality counts in early education
Published: February 12, 2019

Giving Thought: Expanding early child care services in the area
Published: January 15, 2019

Giving Thought: Add charitable giving to your New Year's resolutions
Published: January 1, 2019
2018 Columns
Published: October 22, 2018


Published:  July 17, 2018

Giving Thought: Raising money now for year-round services

Published: July 2, 2018

Giving Thought: Introducing youth to orchestral music

Published: June 18, 2018

Giving Thought:  Let's celebrate community by pedaling together
 this Sunday, June 10
Published:  June 5, 2018

Giving Thought: When employers don’t pay their workers

Published:  May 21, 2018

Giving Thought:  Reproductive health care for anyone that needs it

Published:  May 7, 2018

Giving Thought: In-depth care for students and families

Published: April 24, 2018

Giving Thought: A safe (and free) place for kids to go
Published: April 10, 2018

Giving Thought: Face time between parent and child
Published: March 27, 2018

Giving Thought: A haven for teens after school
Published: March 13, 2018

Giving Thought: Strengthening the community fabric
Published: February 27, 2018

Giving Thought: Hearing students’ voices and views over the airwaves
Published: February 13, 2018

Giving Thought: Bringing music back into classrooms
Published: January 30, 2018

Giving Thought: A safe and SANE place for our youth at River Bridge
Published: January 16, 2018

Giving Thought: Ecological literacy and responsibility in 2018
Published: January 2, 2018